Schoelcher is the first town you hit heading north along the coastal road from Fort-de-France, and it functions essentially as the capital's beach suburb. Named after Victor Schoelcher, who championed the abolition of slavery in the French colonies, the town is home to the University of the French West Indies and a string of small beaches popular with locals on weekends.
The waterfront at Anse Madame is the main draw — a calm bay with views back toward Fort-de-France. The Parc Naturel Régional de la Martinique headquarters is also in Schoelcher, and the hill above the town is laced with hiking trails into the island's interior.
Schoelcher is quieter and less touristy than the capital, a good base if you want easy access to Fort-de-France without staying in the middle of it. The town itself is functional rather than scenic — the interest is in the coastline and the forest above.